Developing the country's infrastructure is a key component to achieving the Philippines' goal to become an upper-middle income economy.

Taking off from the milestones achieved under the 'Build, Build, Build' program of the previous administration, the government continues to elevate the country's infrastructure push with 'Build, Better, More' to respond to the needs of the growing economy.

As part of its commitment to nation-building, the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) continues to undertake programs that will help power ongoing infrastructure projects with stable, adequate, and reliable electricity service.

For the distribution utility, these infrastructure projects will improve the lives of Filipino commuters, buoy economic development, and subsequently reduce the cost of doing business and attract more investments in the country.

In a recent meeting with the Department of Transportation (DOTr), Meralco renewed its commitment to support the government's transportation infrastructure development efforts that are crucial to the country's pandemic recovery and economic growth.

Meralco is conducting pole relocation and energization activities in support of the agency's ongoing and planned transportation projects geared toward greatly benefiting the public.

"As the country's largest power distribution utility, Meralco is cognizant of the importance of stable and reliable electric service in the timely completion and effective operations of DOTr's
infrastructure projects. The government can always count on Meralco's continued and full support for these initiatives which will help spur the Philippines' post-pandemic recovery and renewed drive towards economic progress," Meralco President and CEO Atty. Ray C. Espinosa said.

A better future for the commuting public

Meralco has assured the DOTr that it is ready to help the government realize its infrastructure development program through timely and efficient pole relocation works and energization activities.

This commitment is also anchored on a memorandum of agreement signed by Meralco and DOTr in 2019, under which the two parties committed to closely coordinate to ensure the timely completion of several projects namely the Common Station, LRT-1 Cavite Extension, MRT-7, Metro Manila Subway, PNR South Long Haul (from Manila to Sorsogon), and the three phases of NSCR: PNR North 1 (from Tutuban to Malolos, Bulacan), PNR North 2 (from Malolos to Clark, Pampanga), and PNR South Commuter (from Solis to Calamba, Laguna).

Meralco and DOTr are likewise working together to ensure the timely grant of necessary permits and rights-of-way (ROW), clearances, access, and authority for properties within their jurisdiction so that the power distributor can easily relocate utility poles and for the uninterrupted operation of its electrical facilities.

With more railway and road transport and infrastructure projects underway, more work is similarly expected to deliver the improvements and facilities that will benefit millions of commuters not just in Metro Manila but also in neighboring provinces that are also covered by Meralco's franchise area.

Road transport and infrastructure projects

The power distributor already completed pole relocation activities for key Philippine highways like the Skyway Alabang Extension and Skyway Stage 3 from Buendia to Balintawak.

While construction has yet to start, Meralco already lined up pole relocation projects for the EDSA Greenways and EDSA Bus Rapid Transit — Busway Concourse. Aside from reducing the travel time of commuters, these DOTr projects aim to make more roads pedestrian-friendly.

With the proposed P8.79-billion EDSA Greenways project, commuters can soon walk safer with elevated walkways at four mass transit stations namely Balintawak station of LRT-1, and three stations of the MRT-3 in Cubao, Guadalupe, and Taft.

Meanwhile, the proposed EDSA Busway concourse of the SM Group, which aims to boost the efficiency of the EDSA Busway. Once completed, the DOTr said that the concourses are expected to serve around 300,000 daily commuters along the highway.

Meralco is also undertaking pole relocation projects in support of NAIAx-EDSA Tramo Connecting Ramp, and Skyway Stage 4.

Also known as the Southeast Metro Manila Expressway (SEMME), the Skyway Stage 4 is a 32.7-km expressway connecting eastern Metro Manila and the western portion of Rizal province designed to decongest major thoroughfares EDSA and Circumferential Road 5 (C-5). The NAIAx-EDSA-Tramo Connecting Ramp, on the other hand, is among the projects of San Miguel Corporation which will eventually be connected to the R-10 link.

Other road transport projects that require Meralco support are the Pasig River Expressway, Southern Access Link Expressway, and Northern Access Link Expressway.

Railway projects

Meralco is also preparing relocation works to help the DOTr complete more railway projects in a timely manner.

To ensure the timely completion of the LRT-1 Cavite Extension project, Meralco has relocated 260 utility poles and is preparing to move 40 more. It will also support Packages 2 and 3 of this project, which is expected to cut travel time between Pasay City and Bacoor, Cavite to 30 minutes from the usual one-and-a-half.

Another project in Southern Luzon is the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) Extension which will connect Calamba City in Laguna to neighboring Batangas province via rail. It will be a component of the 147-km North-South Railway Project from Clark, Pampanga.

Filipino commuters will also benefit from the 11-station MRT-4 that will connect Quezon City to Taytay, Rizal via rail. Once completed, the project will address the traffic bottleneck along Ortigas Avenue in Pasig City and will halve the travel time to 30 minutes.

More projects designed to help commuters are under study such as the LRT-2 East Cogeo Extension project which will lessen the passenger buildup in Masinag and the LRT-2 West Extension project which will feature three additional stations to cater to more commuters in Manila City. Once both extension projects are completed, travel time is expected to be reduced to around 30 to 40 minutes from the usual three-hours commuters spend on the road.

South of Metro Manila, the LRT-6 is set for construction which is expected to serve nearly half or 45 percent of Cavite province's population.

Commuters in Central Luzon will also benefit from transportation projects in the works with the expected completion of the MRT-7 which will connect Bulacan province to Quezon City.

Once completed, travel time from San Jose del Monte in Bulacan to North Avenue in Quezon City can be reduced to just 35 minutes from the usual two to three-hour commute. Around half a million commuters are expected to benefit from the project.

"We are grateful to Meralco for their renewed commitment to support our projects. Long before these projects become operational, Meralco has been and remains a loyal partner in supplying power critical for these projects to prosper," DOTr Secretary Jaime J. Bautista said.

Since 2020, Meralco has relocated more than 2,500 poles and has energized 21 facilities to support the government's infrastructure projects.